DETROIT | Tigers ace Justin Verlander wasn’t sharp Thursday, but Detroit’s bats came through.
Verlander allowed four runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 while throwing a career-high 133 pitches as the Tigers beat Texas 7-5, cutting the Rangers’ lead to 3-2 in the American League Championship Series.
“I want the ball. I want to go as deep as possible,” said Verlander, who dominated the AL while winning 24 games during the regular season. “It was a battle for me, all night.”
A swift turn of events in the sixth inning helped Detroit.
The Rangers seemed on the verge of breaking the game open in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with one out and the score tied 2-2. But then Ian Kinsler grounded to Brandon Inge, who stepped on third base and threw to first for a double play.
The Tigers then opened the bottom half with a single, double, triple and homer — in order — and took a 6-2 lead. It was the first time four consecutive batters on one team hit for a “natural” cycle in a postseason game, according to STATS LLC.
Ryan Raburn led off with a single, and Miguel Cabrera’s slow grounder bounced high off third base and down the line, putting Detroit ahead 3-2.
“That (base) will be in my memorabilia room at some point in my life,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Victor Martinez followed with a triple down the right-field line, scoring Cabrera, and Delmon Young added a two-run homer that made it 6-2.
After extending its lead to 7-2, Detroit held on despite Nelson Cruz’s fifth homer of the series on Verlander’s final pitch.
Tigers closer Jose Valverde was unavailable because of how much he had pitched in the series, and Texas took advantage. The Rangers closed to 7-5 in the ninth and had Cruz on deck when Phil Coke retired Mike Napoli on a game-ending ground-out with two runners on for his first career postseason save.
The Rangers get another chance to reach the World Series for the second straight season Saturday night at home. Derek Holland will start for Texas against Max Scherzer.
“Now we go home,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “We still feel good about ourselves.”
Nelson Cruz of Texas became the fifth major-league player to hit five home runs in one postseason series.
| Player, Club | Opp. | Year | Series |
| Reggie Jackson, Yankees | Dodgers | 1977 | World Series |
| Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners | Yankees | 1995 | ALCS |
| Juan Gonzalez, Rangers | Yankees | 1996 | ALCS |
| Chase Utley, Phillies | Yankees | 2009 | World Series |
| Nelson Cruz, Rangers | Tigers | 2011 | ALCS |
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